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Jury selection begins in Cayuga County Good Samaritan murder trial

Kevin Ritchie

Kevin Ritchie enters a Cayuga County courtroom for his arraignment in October. He is accused of stabbing Matthew Prego. Police say Ritchie was choking a woman outside of a party when Prego came to her aid.
(Charley Hannagan/channagan@syracuse.com)

Auburn, NY - Jury selection began this morning for the trial of Kevin Ritchie who is accused of stabbing a Skaneateles man to death during a fight in September.

Ritchie, 29, formerly of 67 N. Division St., has been charged with second degree murder. About two weeks ago he rejected an offer to lower the charges to first degree manslaughter in return for a prison sentence of 29 years.

Ritchie has pleaded not guilty in the case. If convicted, he faces a sentence of 39 years to life, his lawyer Rome Canzano said Monday morning.

Auburn police say Ritchie was choking a woman outside a house party at 33 Case Ave. in the early morning hours of Sept. 28 when Prego went to her aid. The two men fought, and police accuse Ritchie of stabbing Prego during the fight.

With Ritchie's supporters looking on, the Cayuga County Courtroom in Auburn was packed with potential jurors awaiting selection. Jury selection is expected to take most of Monday and opening arguments in the case could begin as early as Tuesday morning.

In addition to murder, Ritchie also faces charges of three counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, second-degree assault, second-degree menacing, criminal obstruction of breathing, second-degree obstructing governmental administration and tampering with evidence.

Contact Charley Hannagan by phone or text at 315-470-2161, by email at channagan@syracuse.com, on Facebook at Neighbors West, or on Twitter @charleypost.